The Transart Foundation

The Transart Foundation for Art and Anthropology is a multifaceted platform for an artist and independent curator in Houston, Texas. The building houses visitors, art, exhibitions and performances, and hosts conversations that spark broader community dialogue about the role of art in our lives, providing a space for the critical intersection between art and anthropology.

The project is designed around a 3,000-square-foot gallery & library. The large “living room” is punctuated by a circulation core that integrates steps and a library, dividing the gallery into two adjacent exhibition spaces. The envelope’s curving fenestration provides controlled indirect light for exhibitions and oblique views outward, while protecting the interior from direct solar gain. The thick timber exterior walls filled with high R-value closed-cell insulation allow high performance through conventional construction methods. The project’s modest scale preserves an open relationship to the street, reinforcing the neighborhood’s walkability and extending the tradition of the nearby Menil Collection.

(With SCHAUM/SHIEH)